TRIAL BY FIRE**
---
### **5:17 AM – Blood, Sweat, and Concrete**
Ibukun's boots crunched against the gravel as he arrived at the abandoned lot behind the stadium—his secret training ground. The rusty metal goalposts leaned drunkenly, their nets long since stolen. He dropped his duffel bag, revealing:
- A jug of stale water
- Three deflated balls (only one still held air)
- A stolen traffic cone
The System's holographic timer materialized in his vision:
**"SESSION OBJECTIVES:**
- 100 weak-foot passes (Current PR: 83)
- 50 successful dribbles (Yesterday: 41)
- 30 minutes of ball control in tight spaces"
He began.
Left foot. *Smack.* The ball rebounded awkwardly. Right foot. *Thud.* Better. Again. Left. Right. Left—
*CRACK.*
The ball exploded against the concrete wall, its final death rattle echoing across the empty lot. Ibukun stared at the ruined leather, his chest heaving. Then, without hesitation, he pulled out the second deflated ball and kept working.
---
### **The System's Ultimatum**
As dawn broke, the System flared crimson:
**"MISSION: EARN YOUR STRIPES"**
- 2 goals in next match
- 1 assist
- 4+ successful dribbles
- 85% passing accuracy
**Reward:** "Clutch Finisher" trait (15% composure boost in key moments)
**Failure:** -3 to all attributes for next 3 games
Ibukun's teeth ground together. This wasn't a game anymore—it was survival.
---
### **Match Day – Lagos U20 vs. Abuja Academy**
#### **Pre-Game Fire**
The locker room reeked of menthol spray and fear. Coach Bello's marker squeaked across the tactics board:
**"They play a high line. Ibukun—you're starting left wing. Run their right-back into the ground."**
Across the room, Kola—the deposed starter—slammed his locker shut. The message was clear: *This is your chance. Don't fuck it up.*
#### **First Half – Trial by Combat**
**Minute 3:**
First touch. Their right-back—a hulking defender named Yusuf—immediately smashed into Ibukun's ribs.
*"Welcome to the big leagues, pretty boy."*
Ibukun spat, tasting blood. The System flashed:
**"Dribble Attempt Failed (1/4)"**
**Minute 18:**
A long ball over the top. Ibukun's burst of pace left Yusuf grasping air—
*WHOOSH.*
—only to sky his shot into the stands. The groans from the sparse crowd were deafening.
**Minute 34:**
Yusuf's elbow found Ibukun's jaw during an aerial duel. The ref waved play on.
*"Stay down, rookie,"* Yusuf sneered.
Ibukun rose, wiping blood from his lip. The System pinged:
**"Mentality Check Passed: +2% Composure"**
#### **Second Half – The Reckoning**
**Minute 51:**
A turnover in midfield. Ibukun saw the play before it developed—
*Threaded pass between two defenders.*
Tolu smashed it home first time.
**ASSIST: 1/1 ✔**
The bench erupted. Coach Bello actually smiled.
**Minute 67:**
Yusuf, now frustrated, lunged recklessly. Ibukun's feint sent the defender sliding past like a cartoon character—
*SILENCE.*
—before curling a beauty into the far corner.
**GOAL: 1/2 ✔**
**DRIBBLES: 4/4 ✔**
The crowd—now awake—chanted his name for the first time.
**Minute 89:**
A last-gasp counter. Ibukun's legs screamed in protest as he burned past Yusuf one final time—
*THUNDERSTRIKE.*
The ball nearly ripped through the net.
**GOAL: 2/2 ✔**
**PASSING ACCURACY: 87% ✔**
The System's golden notification exploded across his vision:
**"MISSION ACCOMPLISHED: 'Clutch Finisher' Trait Unlocked"**
---
### **The Aftermath**
1. **Scout's Notebook:**
A Belgian agent scribbled furiously: *"18yo LW. Raw but explosive. Note: Doesn't quit."*
2. **Locker Room Shift:**
Kola tossed a towel at Ibukun's feet—a begrudging sign of respect.
3. **Physical Toll:**
The ice bath revealed:
- Two bruised ribs
- A split lip
- Legs that felt like lead
4. **System Evolution:**
New stat category unlocked:
**"Mentality (Current: C-)"**
- Composure
- Big-match temperament
- Resilience
---